Rotary furnace



C. B. WISNER ROTARY FURNACE Feb. 25, 1930.

Filed Jan. '15, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 W w M H. 2 w BU I n H- 11mm W. m mw W N% Jwww K If I iiimi C. B. WISNER ROTARY FURNACE Feb. 25, 1930.

Filed Jan.'l3, 1925 4 sheets-sheet 2 Feb. 25, 1930.

c. B. WISNER ROTARY FURNACE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 15, 1925 Nbmmhbw 4 Sheets-Shes? 4 C. B. WISNER ROTARY FURNACE Filed Jan. 13, 1925Feb. 25, 1930.

Patented Feb. 25, 1930 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE CLARENCE B. WISNER,0F CANTON,

GOAL PROCESS CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N.

OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

Y., A donroRA'rIoN or DELAWARE ROTARY FURNACE Application filed January13, 1925. Serial No. 25146.

The invention relates to elongated tubular retorts mounted for rotationin a heating chamber, as for evolving hydrocarbon from accommodate thesame, the heating chamber.

is necessarily divided into sectionsby transverse walls on each sidethereof. The exposed periphery of the retort between these walls formsan annular cooling zone which is not heated by the furnace and fromwhich heat is radiated from the retort.

Such a cooling zone is very objectionable in a furnace wherein it isnecessary or desirable to maintain a uniform, or a constant andreadilycontrolled heat throughout the length of the retort; as for instance incarrying out the process of evolving hydrocarbon fromfuel set forth in,my Patent No.

1,490,357, dated April 15, 1924.

. This difliculty is overcome by the present improvement, in which aspaced sleeve or tubular jacket is provided around the tubular retort,so as to bridge the space between the transverse walls, and to form anannular flue connecting the separate sections of the heating chamber,throu h which flue. the heating gases can flow rom one section of thechamber toethe other.

Furthermore, in this type of furnace, when the end heads of the retortare used to carry feed in the feed out tubes, they are preferablysupported so as to not rotate with the retort; and when so supported,dilficulty is experienced in maintaining a gas tight joint 7 between theheads and the ends of the retort, because of the expansion andcontraction of the tubular walls by varying temperatures, and theweaving caused by the rotation of the retort on the ring rail rollers.

This difliculty is overcome by the present improvement, in which the endheads of the retort are suspended orsupported by central lateraltrunnions, so as to normally press inward by gravity against the ends ofthe tubular walls of the retort, in such a manner that the'rim of the-head will automatically adjust itself to the varying movements andpositions-of the rim of the retort.

And again, in this type of furnace, when helical horizontal screwconveyors or like means are employed in the feed and delivery tubes forcharging and discharging fuel from the retort, difficulty is experiencedin a dog 'ging bf the fuel caused by its-softening by heat, and stickingto .the conveyors and screws as the metal radiates the heat andcools thefuel.

This difiiculty is overcome by thepresent improvement, in which uprightfeed and delivery tubes are provided with disk screws rotatable thereinfor feeding and -discharging material at a predetermined"? rate; together with motor means for rotating the ,clisk screw, and means in thefeed tube above the disk screw, controlled by the presence or absence offuel therein, for automatically starting and stopping the motor means.

' The improvements are illustrated in the I accompanying drawings,forming part hereof, in which: i

Figure 1 is a side elevation, in two sections, of the improved rotaryfurnace; I

Fig. 2 a front end elevation of the same; Fig. 3, an elevation axialsection of the front end of the furnace showing the gas exhaust tube insection, as on line 3-3, Fig. 2; r Fig. 4, a horizontal axial section ofthe front end of the furnace as on line 44, Fig. 2; Fig. 5, an elevationaxial section of the fuel feed tube; Fig. 6, a plan section of the fuelfeed tube on line 6-6, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7, an axial elevation section of the furnace showing the tubularsleeve carrying the forward ring rail and bridging the interval betweenthe transverse walls adjacent thereto;

Fig. 8, a transverse elevation section of the rotary retort on line8--8, Fig. 7;

Fig. 9, an axial elevation of the furnace showing the tubular sleevecarrying the rear ring rail and the ring gear and bridging the intervalbetween the transverse walls adjacent thereto;

Fig. 10, a transverse elevation section of the rotary retort as on line1010, Fig. 9;

Fig. 11, a fragmentary side elevation of one spring sectional sealingring;

Fig. 12, a detached elevation of one section thereof; and

Fig. 13, an end view of the same-r Similar numerals refer to similarparts throughout the drawings.

The rotary retort 14 may be made of stee plates in the form of anelongated tube, and the same is mounted for rotation in a heatingchamber 15 formed in part by a plurality of longitudinally spacedstationary sections, each one of which may be formed by a cementfoundation wall 16, side walls 17, and a top wall arch 18 covered by aheat insulation 19 made respectively of cement, brick work, metalplates, asbestos insulating earth or like materials. The terminal endwalls of the heating chamber stationary sections may each be formed by acast plate 20, and the adjacent intermediate end walls of the heat ingchamber stationary sections may be formed by metal plates 21; the platesbeing formed with annular rim flanges 20 and 21 defining thecorresponding round openings 20 and 21" for receiving the rotary retort.

The heating chamber is completed by rotary sections which may be made oftubular sleeves 22 and 22 spaced from and secured around the retort inthe interval be tween the stationary sections and extend each way towithin the round openings .defined by the flanges 21 so as to formannular fiues 23 around the rotary retort connecting the adjacentstationary sections of the chamber. For convenience of assembling, thesesleeves may each be made in two end sections 22, bolted to and extendingeach way from an intermediate section 22, which in turn is spaced aroundthe retort by a series of longitudinal angle bars 24 located atcircumferential intervals, which may be secured to the sleeve by thesame bolts 25 which secure the sections thereof together, and do notmaterially obstruct the annular flue formed lpy the tubular sleevesaround the rotary re- A bearing ring 26 or 26 may be provided around thetubular sleeve upon each intermediate section between the end sections;and a ring rail 27 is secured to the sleeve, preferabl by bolts 28assing through the rail, the caring ring, t e intermediate section, andthe wall of the retort, for clamping all these parts ri idly together. Aring gear 29 is also securetf to one of the bearing rings,

olts 30 passing through flanges on the respective parts, to which powermay be applied from any suitable source by a pinion 31, for rotating theretort, the ring rails riding upon rolls 32 journaled in bearings 32 inwell known manner. 7

Annular sealing flanges 33 are formed or secured on each tubular sleeveadjacent to the ends thereof, and as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings,these flanges may be proportioned to enter within the opening formed bythe end wall plate flanges 21' to permit a longitudinal movement of theretort to accommodate its expansion and contraction by varying degreesof heat. To each wall plate is secured a spring sealing ring 34 and 34which bears yieldingly against the adjacent sealing flange for making agas tight closure of the opening of the heating chamber around the fluesleeves 22 and 22.

Each spring sealing ring 34 may be made of a plurality of laminations ofarcuate sections 34", overlapped in staggered relation to close thejoints between them. These sections are made of thin spring steel stripsor referably the rear ring 26', as by means of j other resilientmaterial and may be secured together and clamped to the wall plates 21by a'ring 35 and bolts 36.

The sealing rings at both ends of the rear tubular sleeve are normallyformed with their inner portions inclined away from the wall plate so asto bear yieldingly against the sealing flanges 33, so as to permit alimited endwise movement in opposite directions of the ends of thetubular sleeve; and the sealing ring at the forward end of the forwardsleeve is normally formed and bears in a similar manner, so as to permita considerable forward movement of the forward sleeve; while the sealingring 34 around the rear end of the forward sleeve may be and preferablyis normally formed flat against the wall plate 21 so as to-bearyieldingly against the abutting sealing flange 33 when the retort iscold and contracted rearward, as when not in operation.

The normal position of the sealing rings and flanges when the tubularretort is cold is shown in' Figs. 7 and 9 of the drawings, and theslight downward inclination of the retort from front to rear causes itto bear rearward against the relatively stationary head 37 at the rearend of the retort; and when the retort is cold and contracted in thisposition, the normal condition of the respective sealing rings andflanges is shown in Figs. 7 and 9 of the drawings. This arrangementpermits a slight bodily movement of the rear tubular sleeve in eitherdirection, and a slight endwise expansive movement of the ends of thesame ring in opposlte dlreetlons; and also permits a considerable bodilymovement of.

the forward tubular sleeve forward when from its relative fixed rearend; and when so moved, the forward sleeve may move to may be employedfor heating the retort arefree to flow around the retort and endwisethereof throughout its entire length, by from one section of the heatingchamber to another through the annular flues, to an exit opening 89,which is preferably located at the bottom of the forward end of thefurnace. The flue sleeves may be encased in a heat retaining packing 40,to reduce the radiation of heat therefrom to a minimum, and by the useof these sleeves the retort may be heated constantly and uniformlythroughout its enably tapered toform a truncated tire length.

Each end of the tubular retort is prefercone 14, for reducing thediameter and therefore the exposed area of the heads 37 and 37 used forclosing the ends of the retort. In this man- 'ner the surface of theretort which is directly exposed to the action of the heating gases 18increased to a maximum or more than 90% of the total exterior surface ofthe retort. The end heads 37 and 37 of the retort are preferablysuspended from above or supported from below by links 41, the ends ofwhich form bearings for trunnions 42 extending laterally on each side ofthe head, preferably in the horizontal diameter thereof. When theselinks are supported from below, the lower ends thereof are provided withadjustable balls 40 seated in bearings 41" for permitting a limitedoscillation and turning. The sustaining or supporting links 41 areinclined upward toward the furnace,

' so that the weight of, the head acts to press the heads against theend of the retort; and

I at the same time the head is free to move-inward and outward and toswing upon its trunnion bearings, and also upon the ball bearings of thesupporting links, so as to accommodate itself to the endwise andwearingmovement of the end of' the retort.

A short neck 14 may extend outward from the truncated conical end of theretort, over which the rim 37" of the head may telescope to center thehead on the neck, and a machine faced bearing ring 42' may be securedaround the inner end of the neck of the retort for contacting with amachine faced rim flange 37 on the head, to close the circumferentiallysliding joint between these parts. One or both of these flan es may beprovided with an annular groove or ever there is receiving and'retaininga packing ring 43, which may be made of asbestos rope or the like toforma gas tight sealing of the joint; but, in some cases, the contact may bedirectly between the machined faces of the abutting flanges.

For the purpose of cushioning the frictional pressure of the rim flangeof the head against the rotating bearing flange on the end of theretort, it is preferred to interpose compression springs 44 between ears45 on I the sides of the head, and the end plate 20 of the heatingchamber; and these springs and ears serve to ultimately stop an inwardmovement of the head, in event the retort is withdrawn by contractionfrom a bearing contact therewith;

The annular rim flange 20' which is provided on the end plate 20,extends outward around the periphery of the rim flange 37 of the head,and the former flange is preferably provided with an annular groove 46for receiving'and retaining a packing ring 46', which may likewise bemade of asbestos rope for sealing in the end of the heating chamber.

A feed pipe 47 extends upward from the forward head of the retort, forreceiving fuel or'other raw material to be treated therein, and thelower section of-this pipe is preferably formed integral with the headof the retort. Means for controllin the continuity and rate of feed areprefera ly provided in an upright tubular section 47 of the feed pipe,and these means may include a disk screw lower end of an axial rod 4which may be driven by a variable speed motor 50. The disk screw 48 maybe formed by cutting a radial slit therein and deflecting the diskdownward on the forward side 48 of the slit below the edge 48 on therear side thereof as the disk is rotated, thus forming an opening 49between the severed edges of the slit through which a correspondingamount of raw material may pass as the disk is rotated. The same meansmay be used in the delivery tube 47 a leading from the retort.

Controlling means are preferably provided for the feed pipe above thefeed screw, and as shown may include a'swinging section 51 of the wallthereof, pivoted above at 51 to swing into the tube, and provided withan outwardly extending weighted arm 51" carrying a contact 52 arrangedto abut another contact 52 when the wall section is swung outward, forclosing the electric circuit 50, by which the motor 50 is operated.Whenraw material in the feed flue extending upward above the swingingsection of the wall, the same is pressed outward to close the circuitand operate the motor for turning the disk screw and feeding the raw 48rotatable in the feed pipe on the so that it drops below the swingingsection\ of the wall, the same swings inward to break v the circuit andstop the operation of the feed screw; thereby constantly maintaining asufficient amount of raw material above the screw to constantly maintaina gas tight sealing thereof.

The yielding pressure, end-closure heads for the rotary retortillustrated and described, but not claimed herein, are made the subjectmatter of claims in my application for rotary retorts, filed April 171929, Serial No. 355,913, in continuation of this application withrespect to that particular subject matter.

I claim:

1. A furnace including a tubular rotary retort, the axis of which isinclined to the vertical, a wall surrounding'said retort along theentire axis thereof and spaced from said retort, the space between saidretort and said wall being adapted for, heating said retort, said wallcomprising stationary sections surrounding said retortan'd spaced fromeach other along said axis, said wall also comprising rotary sectionsbetween said stationary sections secured to and surrounding said retortand bridging the intervals between said stationary sections, saidstationary sections and said rotary sections being constructed so as toallow rotation of said rotary sections with said retort, said rotarysections having peripheral portions that are circular in cross sectiontransverse to said axis and concentric therewith, and bearing members onwhich said peripheral portions rest.

2. A furnace including a tubular rotary retort, the axis of which isinclined to the vertical, a wall surrounding said retort along theentire axis thereof and spaced from said retort, the space between saidretort and said wall being adapted for heating said retort, said wallcomprising stationary sections surrounding said retort and spaced fromeach other along said axis, said wall also comprising rotary sectionsbetween said stationary sections secured-to and surrounding said retortand bridging the intervals between said stationary sections, saidstationary sections and said rotary sections being constructed so as toallow rotation of said rotary sections with said retort, and yieldingmeans closing the joint between said stationary sections and said rotarysections, said rotary sections having peripheral portions that arecircular in cross section transverse to said axis and concentrictherewith, and bearing members on which said peripheral portions rest.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name;

CLARENCE B. WISNER.

